Matt disagrees with the atomic bombing of Japan. Matthew believes that the use of atomic weapons was inhumane and caused many things in its wake that would not have happened if the atomic bombs were not dropped. The atomic weapons killed many civilians who were present in the target cities during the bombings. The radiation that many of the survivors experienced during the atomic attacks caused diseases, raising the collateral death toll of the bombings significantly. The bombs also caused unnecessary civilian deaths. There is evidence of peace overtures being made by Japanese leaders. Even Emperor Hirohito stated, " We wish that you, leaders of Japan, will strive now to study the ways and the means to conclude the war." Matt thinks that these peace overtures prove that Japan was ready to surrender even before the use of the atomic bombs. Another sign of Japan's willingness to surrender was the heavy losses the Japanese military suffered during the years of defense against the advancing American troops. The Japanese people knew that their weakened military was in no state to repel the advancing American war machine. The use of atomic weapons spurred a arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union, commonly known as the Cold War. The use of atomic weapons caused a deadly stalemate between the two superpowers that dragged in other countries into the struggle as the Soviet Union expanded into places such as Eastern Germany after World War 2. Matt suggests that there were several better options that could have been used. One was to continue the naval blockade. Using this tactic, the United States could have starved Japan into submission. Another tactic would have been to continue the conventional bomb raids. Although this strategy would have killed many Japanese civilians, it would have resulted in Japan's surrender and prevented the Cold War from beginning. Matthew states that the use of the atomic bomb was unnecessary and was inhumane.
In James' opinion, the atomic bombings of Japan were necessary to end the war. Although Japan's military was in a weakened state, many military leaders of Japan did not want to surrender. The atomic bombings caused a quicker surrender of Japan with minimal casualties unlike the other options that the US military had. The US military had several of options to force Japan to surrender other than the use of the atomic bomb. James believes that the atomic bombing of Japan was the best option. If President Truman decided to not drop the bombs, there would have been a full scale invasion on the Japanese home land. In this invasion, thousands or millions of American and allied troops would have been killed or wounded in battles. Also, the Soviet Union, through the invasion of Japan, could have expanded its influence in Asia. The atomic bombings prevented a full scale invasion of Japan which allowed many soldiers to return to their families and continue to live their lives. It also prevented the Soviet Union from expanding into Asia. If President Truman decided to keep bombing the city with conventional bombs more civilian lives would have been lost than if the atomic bomb would have been dropped. The U.S could have continued the naval blockade which over time could starve the Japanese people and the emperor would have to surrender, but this would take months to have an effect. James believes that the Japanese leaders that attempted to make peace overtures before the bombings did not have the authority to approve a peace treaty. James' opinion is that the atomic bombing of Japan was the quickest way to end the Second World War.